The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1887-03-05

bar to its construction. H. c. Davis, as
sistant general passenger agent of the
Northern Pacific, while here this week,
said the bill would likely pass, and that in
case it did, work would begin on the road
WITHIN the next fortnight
A Remarkable Speech.
The Sunday law, II. B. No. So, which
in it's provisions seeks to suppress every
character of business, was being con-
sidered in the house last Wednesday
and was on it's final passage. Major
Anderson opposed the measure, as fol-
lows:
Mr.. Speaker: l can hardly imagine
that any member of the house seriously
contemplates voting in favor of this
bill as it now stands. According to my
view it is not fit subject for legisla-
ton. We are here to legislate in the in
terests of the people, and not for the
Lord, or the Lords day. If the Lord
needs anything He ought to be able to
take care Of himself and his interests.
| What constitutes proper observance
of the Sunday law? A law enacted to
observe the Lords day? The entire
matter should be relegated to the relig
ious or denominational organizations.
In the beginning we find that after the
Almighty had labored assiduously for
six long days and nights He became
weary, and determined to rest on the
seventh (not on the first day. and hal
lowed it, and in the ten commandments
under the Jewish law and theocracy
the commandment was given as fol-
lows: six days shalt thou labor and do
all thy work, but the seventh is the
Sabbath of the Lord thy God,' and so
far as we know we have no authority
for changing the seventh to the first
day OF the week commonly called the
Lords day..
In the history and book Of Jesus
Christ, as recorded in the New Testa-
ment scriptures we have no intimation
that He desired to change the observ-
ance of the seventh day to the first day,
nor in fact did He appear to pay any
particular respect to the Jewish Sab
bath; in fact, it was said Of Him that
He was a glutton and wine bibber, q
friend Of pubficans and sinners, and that
He was Sabbath breaker, and this was
exemplified by His conduct when, with
His twelve disciples, He walked through
the fields of corn, contrary to the Jew
ish custom, plucked the ears, shelled
out the grain and distributed the ker-
nels to His enthusiastic followers.
The same Lord, or Master, who is
evidently referred to in this bill before
the legislature, distinctly stated that
the Sabbath was made for man and not
man for the Sabbath" showing conclu-
sively that it was not intended by the
divine mind for man to become slave
to the observance of any moral, relig-
| ious enactment. and this doctrine is fur
ther eXemplified in the writings of one
of Jesus Christ's most prominent fol-
lowers st. Paul-when he says: "Sone
men esteem one day above another,
others esteem every day alike; let every
man be fully persuaded in his own
mind"
| 1t is hardly necessary for Inc to say
that the bill under consideration seeks
to interfere with personal rights and
constitutional privileges. There is
nothing in the constitution of the Unit
ed States that refers directly or indi-
rectly to the first day of the week as
being an especially privileged or sacred
day. With the American people every
day is supposed to be alike, and license
granted to do business to any citizen OF
| Montana makes no restriction and inn
poses no prohibition on his business, in
terests or arrangements.
1 can appreciate in measure the
| probable action Of the members of this
body, and can understand why they
may be favorable to this bill; and yet I
| realize that most of them are Montan-
ians of long experience, but are liable
to be influenced more or less by extra
| neous or outside circumstances, and yet
| I must give an opinion that they all
feel that this is not proper subject for
legislation, and shall be surprised if
| any considerable number of votes shall
be cast in it's favor.
The observance of the first day of the
week as sacred day, or an enforced
day Of rest, has no authority in either
the Old or the New Testament scrip
lures. The early disciples of Christ
observed the seventh day, but they also
congregated for religious worship on
| the first day of the week in commemo-
ration of the resurrection of their Mas
ter; and yet there is not particle Of
| authority for dndicatinr Or setting a art